Hair threading apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A protective device for protecting the fingers of a user from cuts while hair threading is presented. The protective device has a guard configured to overlie at least a portion of a finger of a user. The thread for hair threading is wrapped around a portion of the guard so that the thread does not directly come into contact with the skin. The guard has an attachment member configured to maintain the thread in the desired position relative to the finger of the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Presented herein are devices and methods for protecting the hands of auser while hair threading. In particular, a protective device forprotecting the fingers from cuts in the skin while hair threading ispresented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The personal grooming market is a large segment of the American economy.People spend millions of dollars each year nation-wide to lookbeautiful. Hair removal on the legs and eyebrows is very popular aroundthe world and many apparatuses and procedures have been developedtherefore.

Hair threading is a popular method of hair removal whereby thread isused to remove hair. To perform hair threading, the thread is often heldin a loop fashion, as illustrated in FIG. 1. A twist is put in thethread, as shown in FIG. 2, and the twist moves right or left to catchthe hair and pulls if from the root (as a method of hair removal). Whilethis technique is effective for hair removal, the thread movement acrossthe skin often causes thread cuts to the fingers of the user holding thethread. That is, as the thread is manipulated, the thread can cut intothe skin because the thread is taut and thin so that it readily digsinto and cuts the skin. These cuts put the user, such as a salontechnician and the like, and the person having the hair removed, such asa client and the like, at risk due to cuts that result in blood or woundexposure, including blood borne or environmental pathogens.

Eyebrow threading is quite popular and one of the fastest growing beautytrends. Many spas and salons are using the technique. As such, there isa great risk to the community and the spa personnel, if steps are nottaken to prevent thread cuts. When performing threading hair removal ononeself, one can also suffer thread cuts to the fingers. This too putspersons at risk for infection.

Accordingly, there is a need for a protective device to protect thefingers of a user from thread cuts caused by contact of the thread withthe skin of a user during hair threading.

SUMMARY

Presented herein is a protective device for protecting the fingers of auser from cuts while hair threading. The protective device comprises aguard configured to overlie at least a portion of a finger of a user.The thread for hair threading can be coupled to and/or wrap around aportion of the guard so that the thread does not directly come intocontact with the skin. That is, the guard can act as a barrier to thefriction from the thread that causes thread cuts.

In one aspect, the guard can comprise at least one attachment memberconfigured to maintain the thread in the desired position relative tothe finger of the user. That is, the attachment member can position thethread and prevent or restrict the thread from contacting the skin ofthe user. Optionally, the at least one attachment member can comprise apair of arms. For example, the thread can wrap around an outer surfaceof a central portion of the pair of arms to position the thread asdesired.

In another aspect, a slot, a channel and the like can be defined betweenthe attachment member and a portion of a body of the guide so that thethread can be positioned in the slot or channel. For example, a distalend of the attachment member can be coupled to the body, and a proximalend of the attachment member can be spaced from the body a predetermineddistance to form the slot. In another example, the distal end and theproximal end of the attachment member can be coupled to the body and acentral portion of the attachment member can be spaced from the body apredetermined distance to form the channel.

Related methods of operation are also provided. Other apparatuses,methods, systems, features, and advantages of the protective device andthe method of its use will be or become apparent to one with skill inthe art upon examination of the following figures and detaileddescription. It is intended that all such additional apparatuses,methods, systems, features, and advantages be included within thisdescription, be within the scope of the protective device and the methodof its use, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate certain aspects of the instantinvention and together with the description, serve to explain, withoutlimitation, the principles of the invention. Like reference charactersused therein indicate like parts throughout the several drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a thread held in a loop fashion forhair threading, showing the thread contacting the skin of the fingers ofthe user;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the thread of FIG. 1 with a twistput into the thread;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of one aspect of a protective devicefor protecting the hands of a user while hair threading;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a second aspect of a protectivedevice for protecting the hands of a user while hair threading;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a third aspect of a protectivedevice for protecting the hands of a user while hair threading; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a fourth aspect of a protectivedevice for protecting the hands of a user while hair threading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be understood more readily by reference to thefollowing detailed description, examples, and claims, and their previousand following description. Before the present system, devices, and/ormethods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that thisinvention is not limited to the specific systems, devices, and/ormethods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course,vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein isfor the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is notintended to be limiting.

The following description of the invention is provided as an enablingteaching of the invention in its best, currently known aspect. Thoseskilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes can be madeto the aspects described, while still obtaining the beneficial resultsof the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of thedesired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selectingsome of the features of the present invention without utilizing otherfeatures. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize thatmany modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possibleand can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of thepresent invention. Thus, the following description is provided asillustrative of the principles of the present invention and not inlimitation thereof.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include pluralreferents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, forexample, reference to a “thread” includes aspects having two or morethreads unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value,and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/orto the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed asapproximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understoodthat the particular value forms another aspect. It will be furtherunderstood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant bothin relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the otherendpoint.

As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that thesubsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, andthat the description includes instances where said event or circumstanceoccurs and instances where it does not.

Terms used herein, such as “exemplary” or “exemplified,” are not meantto show preference, but rather to explain that the aspect discussedthereafter is merely one example of the aspect presented.

The term “substantially,” as used herein, may be applied to modify anyquantitative representation which could permissibly vary withoutresulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.

Presented herein are a protective device and method for protecting thehands of a user while hair threading. In one aspect and as illustratedin FIGS. 3-6, the protective device 10 comprises a guard 12 configuredto overlie at least a portion of a finger 14 of a user (as used herein,the term “finger” can include a pointer finger, a thumb 22 and/or anyother finger of the user). In use, the thread 16 for hair threading canbe coupled to a portion of the guard so that the thread does notdirectly come into contact with the skin. That is, the guard can act asa barter to space the thread from the skin of the user.

The guard 12 can comprise at a body 18 defining a longitudinalpassageway 20 therethrough. In one aspect, the longitudinal passagewaycan be sized and shaped to fit the finger 14 of the user so that theguard can be worn on the finger. That is, an inner wall of thelongitudinal passageway 20 can be configured to couple the guard 12 tothe finger of the user when the finger is positioned in the longitudinalpassageway. In one aspect, the longitudinal passageway 20 can be sizedand shaped to form a friction fit between the guard and the finger. Thatis, a finger 14 inserted into the longitudinal passageway canfrictionally engage the body 18 to prevent or restrict the guard 12 fromsliding off the finger. Optionally, in another aspect, the guard can beclipped or attached to the finger with an adhesive material, such asadhesive tape, glue and the like. In use, for example, the finger 14 canslide through the longitudinal passageway 20 until the guard 12 ispositioned as desired relative to a distal end 24 of the finger.

In one aspect, at least a portion of the body 18 of the guard 12 can beconfigured to engage the thread 16. That is, in this aspect, the threadcan wrap around a portion of an outer surface 26 of the body to maintainthe thread in the desired position without contacting the skin of theuser (i.e., spaced from the skin of the user). In another aspect, theguard can further comprise at least one attachment member 28 having anouter surface 30, wherein the attachment member is configured to engagea portion of the thread 16 and maintain the thread in the desiredposition relative to the skin of the user. In this aspect, theattachment member can be coupled to a portion of the body 18. In anotheraspect, a portion of the thread can engage the outer surface 30 of theattachment member, and a portion of the thread 16 can engage the outersurface 26 of the body.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in one aspect, the attachment member 28can comprise a pair of arms 32. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in one aspect,a longitudinal axis of a first arm 34 of the pair of arms can be at anarm angle relative to the longitudinal axis of a second arm 36 so thatat least a portion of the first arm intersects the second arm. In afurther aspect, the arm angle can be an acute angle, or optionally, aright angle. In use, the thread 16 can wrap around a portion of theouter surface 30 of at least one arm of the pair of arms 32 to maintainthe thread in the desired position. Optionally, in one aspect the threadcan wrap around the outer surface of a central portion 38 of the pair ofarms.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in another aspect, the longitudinal axis of thefirst arm 34 of the pair of arms 32 can be substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the second arm 36. In this aspect, the first armcan be spaced from the second arm by the central portion 38. In use, thethread 16 can wrap around a portion of the outer surface 30 of at leastone arm of the pair of arms 32 to maintain the thread in the desiredposition. Optionally, in one aspect, the thread can wrap around theouter surface of the central portion 38 of the pair of arms.

In one aspect, a slot 40, channel 42, and the like can be definedbetween a portion of the attachment member 28 and the outer surface 26of the body 18. For example, a distal end 44 of the attachment membercan be coupled to a portion of the body 18, and a proximal end 46 of theattachment member 28 can be spaced from the body a predetermineddistance to form the slot, as illustrated in FIG. 5. As such, the slot40 can then be defined between the attachment member 28 and a portion ofthe outer surface 26 of the body 18 so that a portion of the thread 16can be positioned in the slot. In another aspect, a longitudinal axis ofthe proximal end of the attachment member can be substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal passageway 20 of the body.

In another example, the distal end 44 and the proximal end of 46 of theattachment member 28 can be coupled to the body 18 and the centralportion 38 of the attachment member can be spaced from the body apredetermined distance, as illustrated in FIG. 6. As such, the channel42 can then be defined between the central portion 38 of the attachmentmember 28 and the outer surface 26 of the body 18 so that a portion ofthe thread 16 can be positioned in the channel. In another aspect, atleast a portion of the attachment member can be an arcuate attachmentmember.

In one aspect, the protective device 10 can be a disposable device. Thatis, the device can be manufactured inexpensively so that upon useremoving the hair of a person, the device can be discarded or recycled.

In another aspect, the protective device 10 can commonly be placed onthe thumb and the pointer finger of a user, but placement on any otherfinger 14 as needed to perform the threading technique is alsocontemplated.

In a further aspect, at least a portion of the protective device 10 canbe formed from a material that can resist thread cuts. For example, atleast a portion of the protective device can be formed from metallicmaterials such as stainless steel and the like, or polymeric materialssuch as polycarbonate, polypropylene, high density polyethylene, acetyl,ABS, nylon 66, polystyrene, and the like.

In use, the finger 14 of the user can be inserted through thelongitudinal pathway 20 of the body 18 until the guard 12 is positionedas desired relative to the distal end 24 of the finger. A portion of thethread 16 can be wrapped around a portion of the outer surface 26 of thebody and/or the outer surface 30 of the attachment member 28 so that thethread is held in the desired position by the body and/or the attachmentmember. A second, third, fourth, or more protective device 10 can bepositioned on additional fingers of the user as described herein, sothat each finger or thumb that could come in contact with a portion ofthe thread can be protected by a guard 12. Thus, the skin of the usercan be protected from cuts by the thread, and the user can thread hairconventionally without the risk of thread cuts.

Although several aspects of the invention have been disclosed in theforegoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the artthat many modifications and other aspects of the invention will come tomind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teachingpresented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It isthus understood that the invention is not limited to the specificaspects disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and otheraspects are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as wellas in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic anddescriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the describedinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective device for protecting the fingers ofa user from cuts formed in the skin of the fingers from a thread used inhair threading, the protective device comprising: a guard having a bodydefining a longitudinal passageway therethrough, wherein a portion ofthe finger of the user is insertable through the longitudinal passagewayto couple the guard to the finger, and wherein the thread can be engagea portion of an outer surface of the body to maintain the thread in adesired position spaced from the skin of the user.
 2. The protectivedevice of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive material configured toadhere the finger to the body to prevent the guard from sliding off thefinger.
 3. The protective device of claim 1, wherein at least a portionof the body frictionally engages the finger inserted through thelongitudinal to prevent the guard from sliding off the finger.
 4. Theprotective device of claim 1, wherein the guard comprise at least oneattachment member coupled to a portion of the body, and wherein theattachment member is configured to engage a portion of the thread andmaintain the thread in the desired position spaced from the skin of theuser.
 5. The protective device of claim 4, wherein the attachment membercomprises at least a first arm having a longitudinal axis and a secondarm having a longitudinal axis.
 6. The protective device of claim 5,wherein the longitudinal axis of the first arm is at an acute arm anglerelative to the longitudinal axis of the second arm such that at least aportion of the first arm intersects the second arm at a central portion,and wherein a portion of the thread wraps around an outer surface of thecentral portion.
 7. The protective device of claim 5, wherein thelongitudinal axis of the first arm is substantially normal to thelongitudinal axis of the second arm such that at least a portion of thefirst arm intersects the second arm at a central portion, and wherein aportion of the thread wraps around at least a portion of an outersurface of the central portion.
 8. The protective device of claim 5,wherein the longitudinal axis of the first arm is substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis of the second arm, wherein the first arm isspaced from the second arm by a central portion, and wherein a portionof the thread wraps around at least a portion of an outer surface of thecentral portion.
 9. The protective device of claim 4, wherein theattachment member comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein thedistal end is coupled to the body and the proximal end is spaced fromthe body a predetermined distance such that a slot is defined betweenthe attachment member and the body, and wherein a portion of the threadis positionable in the slot.
 10. The protective device of claim 9,wherein a longitudinal axis of the proximal end of the attachment memberis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinalpassageway of the body.
 11. The protective device of claim 4, whereinthe attachment member comprises a distal end and a proximal end, whereinthe distal end and the proximal end are coupled to the body, wherein acentral portion of the attachment member is spaced from the body apredetermined distance such that a channel is defined between theattachment member and the body, and wherein a portion of the thread ispositionable in the channel.
 12. The protective device of claim 4,wherein at least a portion of the attachment member is an arcuateattachment member.
 13. The protective device of claim 1, wherein thedevice is disposable.
 14. The protective device of claim 1, wherein thedevice is formed from polymeric materials.
 15. A method for protectingthe fingers of a user from cuts formed in the skin of the fingers from athread used in hair threading, the method comprising: providing aprotective device comprising a guard having a body defining alongitudinal passageway therethrough, wherein a portion of the finger ofthe user is insertable through the longitudinal passageway to couple theguard to the finger; and positioning a portion of the thread around anouter surface of the body to maintain the thread in a desired positionspaced from the skin of the user while hair threading.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the guard comprise at least one attachment membercoupled to a portion of the body, and wherein the attachment member isconfigured to engage a portion of the thread.